Get ready. It is nearly that time of the year. Wheat harvest is almost upon us.
In fact, by my expert judgement, we are probably right around one week away from harvest getting rolling in the aptly named Golden Belt. My expert judgement, by the way, comes from growing up in a rural community.
The reports from those hired to do the reporting say the wheat is about 50 poor/50 good. A little more detailed than that, of course, but that is gest of the report. But that is statewide.
Our local expert of many things, Jeff Mauler, thinks it will probably be better around here than the state as a whole.
In riding around the area recently, I agree with Jeff. Not because Jeff is all that smart or right a lot. But because it just doesn’t look too bad around here.
Let’s hope that is the case.
So get ready folks. Be careful when driving country roads and make sure to do your best to stay out of the way of harvesters. After all, it’s their Super Bowl.

Former Barton Athlete/Coach update
Roger Ward and the Great Bend Bat Cats are underway in season two. It was pretty cool to see the club venture to Ellinwood and Hoisington for the first two games of the season. Those communities responded by showing up in nice numbers and the Bats Cats put on a good show.
Last season was, by all measures, a resounding success for the Bats Cats in their initial season. Coach Ward has another roster full of kids ready to tackle the season second season with the same vigor.
This weekend Oklahoma City comes to Great Bend for games at Al Burns Field. Tonight, the Bat Cats play at 7 pm with a doubleheader set for Saturday at 5:30 pm. Its free admission, so get out and watch the Bats Cats play if you can.
If nothing else, you have to mark July 11 on your calendar. That is when Barton assistant coach and the head coach of the Fort Collins Foxes, Alex King, brings his team to town. Roger tells me he is planning a cow milking contest against Alex at home plate that night.

And Finally
I just recently celebrated my anniversary. Well, it’s not just my anniversary, its Crystal’s as well. So I should say WE recently celebrated OUR anniversary. In June, like probably about half of Kansas it seems.
We made it another trip around the sun without Crystal kicking me out. This can only be a good thing.
Now, I do a pretty good job of remembering when our anniversary is. You see, I like numbers and I like history. We were married on June 4. I have known pretty much all my life D-Day was June 6.
Therefore, and my family has heard me say this repeatedly, I remember our anniversary as two days before D-Day.
I must admit, though, we have been married long enough that June 4 is now a well-recognized date in my mind. So I sometimes get D-Day and our anniversary mixed up. I have to stop and think, it is two days before or after? Which is the fourth and which is the sixth?
I remember Crystal’s birthday in much the same fashion. She likes Dr. Pepper. I can remember from a very, very young age the Dr. Pepper clock at Bob’s Conoco in Glen Elder was one of those old 10-2-4 Dr. Pepper clocks.
Those number origins go back to the 1920s and getting a form of energy at 10 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm could prevent a metabolism drop the body would naturally have 30 minutes after each of those times. Dr. Pepper had an entire ad campaign around it for many years.
Anyway, I have always remembered those numbers. My wife’s birthday is Oct. 2. That’s 10/2 – the first two numbers of the 10-2-4.
So thank you Dr. Pepper and D-Day. Because of those things, I have yet to forget my wife’s birthday or our anniversary.

Mike Marzolf is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and his views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. He can be reached at MarzolfM@bartonccc.edu.